Nitration of 5-hydroxyindole derivatives with ferric nitrate: Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new nitroindole derivatives

1-Substituted-3-acetyl-5-hydroxy-2-methylindoles 1a-b are nitrated with com mercially available hydrated ferric nitrate to produce new 1-substituted-3- acetyl-4,6-dinitro-5-hydroxy-2-methylindoles 2a-b. These 2a-b are reacted s eparately with methyl iodide and ethyl chloroacetate in presence of anhyd K 2CO3 and Kl in refluxing dry acetone to give 1-substituted-3-acetyl-4,6-din itro-5-methoxy-2-methylindoles 3a-b, 1-substituted-3-acetyl-4,6-dinitro-5-e thoxycarbonylmethoxy-2-methylindoles 4a-b respectively in good yields. All these new compounds are screened for their antifungal and antibacterial act ivities.